Bahrain

Beautiful Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the best places to go to if you are in search of a place that will give you all the allure of the Arabian spirit without the choking strictures of more conservative Islamic laws. Bahrain is undeniably Arab in culture—no one visiting the area can accuse it of losing its Middle Eastern flavor—but it’s also undeniably more liberated than many other Arab countries. This is one place where Middle Eastern heat does not mean you have to stay dry: liquor is actually legal.

There are a lot of things to do in Bahrain besides having a tipple in town, though. For instance, this is the home of the biggest standalone waterpark in the region, the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park. For just a few dinars, you gain access to one of the highest-rated waterparks in the world, and also get an introduction to the country’s heritage in the ancient Dilmun empire. It’s a great way to see modern Bahrain while also touching a part of its past.

Indeed, past and present thrive alongside each other in this beautiful kingdom. Bahrain is a land of forts, of old Arab castles casting romantic silhouettes in the twilight. Yet it is also a place of great progress, of luxurious five-star hotels boasting every modern amenity possible to extensive shopping complexes from which one can purchase the latest products from London to Milan. Visitors can enjoy authentic camel rides even down to the modern highways, and they can also set aside time in April to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix F1 race. The desert sands beg exploration for would-be-Lawrence-of-Arabias yet the Persian Gulf is never far away with its water activities, along with the nearby greens on which putters can relax.

Bahrain offers so much for everyone. It is no wonder, then, that this is one of the foremost tourist spots in its region, with travelers rarely visiting only once and often coming back again and again throughout their lives.

As an archipelago nation with many islands, sailing in Bahrain was and still is an important method of travel. During the ancient times until the golden age of sail, sailing in the Persian Gulf, and anywhere in the world for that matter, was the only way for goods, cargo, news and people to be transported across vast distances between countries, islands and continents. As an island nation, Bahrain utilized sailing for all sorts of activities from fishing to trade. Today, some fishermen still use traditional Dhows to get to their bountiful fishing spots since it is extremely efficient as well as silent. For most Bahraini people as well as tourists however, sailing is a recreational pastime that is done for leisure and pleasure.

Go sailing in Bahrain

There is nothing like cutting through the water on a straight run while being propelled by nature’s own breath and the sound of the …

The Bin Matar House, or as it is known today, Place of Memory, is a cultural treasure and a snapshot of Bahraini art. The house used to be a residential home that was converted into a museum that houses various sculptures and other artwork that were owned in a private collection by the bin Matar family. The vast majority of the collection pays homage to pearl divers along with actual tools of the trade of the industry. These are the same tools that were pulled from the depths of the sea bringing much wealth to Bahrain.

Bin Matar House

Although the staccato tapping of pearls on metal sieves has long since dissipated from echoing in the halls of this home, the rich legacy of the Bahraini pearl industry can still be sensed within its walls in an almost tangible feeling. The bin Matar Family, having been one …

Located on a seaside reef in modern day West Riffa, the Riffa Fort is a much of a relic of the past. Today, the fort is a complex of silent walls and silent guns overlooking a coast for an enemy that may never arrive.

Riffa Fort in Bahrain

Built in the 1600’s, the fort was commissioned by the Persian Safavid Empire ruling from Iran. It was designed to be a stronghold against enemies that may invade Bahrain. Today, the fort is known as Sh. Salman bin Ahmed Fort. It is an architectural marvel and tourist location that showcases the relics of the past that very much shaped the culture and politics of the small island state of today. …

The Pearl Monument found at the roundabout that enters Manama is one of the great landmarks that most locals and tourists will distinctly notice while touring around the city. It is one of the most memorable landmarks in Bahrain and is a center of attention for both Bahraini citizens and foreign nationals alike. Situated in the heart of the capital, the monument is the pride and joy of the citizens. It towers above and welcomes newcomers to the city, giving them a gleeful feeling of belonging even in a new and foreign land. Much like the Arc de Triumph in Paris, the monument is placed in a roundabout which is a hub to several major roads, ensuring that anyone driving or commuting around Manama will be able to see it.

Amazing Pearl Monument

The roundabout is strategically located near other key attractions in Manama which includes the Bahrain Central Market and Marina. …

In the capital city of Al-Manamah in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the incredibly popular Bahrain Gold Souq or the Bahrain Gold Market can be found. The so-called Gold Market is named because of its nearly unmatched gathering of gold, goldsmiths and craftsmen. Two of the most famous stores in the area would be the Gold Souk building and the Gold City building, both situated near Bab Al-Bahrain. This place is not only attractive to tourists and visitors because of its sheer quantity of gold and golden objects, but also because most items possess an amazing amount of value both in weight and in craftsmanship. Unlike many other gold retailers, the quality of gold found and sold here range as high as 21 to even 24 carat in purity. Located in the busy streets of Government Avenue, the souq is now host to an unbelievable array of merchants and retailers parading some of the finest-made gold products in the East.

Bahrain Gold Souq

A trip to Bahrain would certainly be incomplete without experiencing the sights, smells, and sounds of the souq. This place is like a …

Dolphin watching in Bahrain is a truly exciting experience that cannot be compared to those in other countries. Although a Dolphin park with captive dolphins does exist in Bahrain, the park is nothing in comparison to watching these nimble creatures in the wild rather than confined in a gilded cage. Certain people are also against dolphin parks and captive dolphins that are enslaved to perform cheap tricks day after day. This then gives visitors all the more reason to enjoy the dolphin watching experience. There is something about the way dolphins leap from the water and play in the wake of a boat that seems so gleeful and innocent. This is definitely an experience one can never see in a dolphin park with captive dolphins.

Go watch dolphins in Bahrain

Wild dolphins are just that, wild. They are left to their own devices and can behave in the manner that they are most accustomed to. …